OK, bought the VTR back in July with a leaking right hand fork seal, but the price was good so I thought it wouldn't be a problem.
I replaced the fork seal with a Pyramid (2 springs) one off Fleabay. I managed about 500 miles when it went again big time and emptied a load of oil all over the disc and wheel just as I stopped at the MoT centre, nice!
So I take it to a trusted 'old school' bike mechanic who finds a slight nick in the chrome quite a way up the leg. I pissed that I hadn't noticed it myself TBH! He has a go at smoothing it out with some wet and dry until he's happy that it's no longer a problem. Rebuilds fork with another Pyramid seal and off I go.
Another 300 miles and I notice dust sticking to the right leg. Looks like it's leaking again, very slightly at the moment, but I think it's going to get worse.
I'm begining to wonder if there's something more to it than a slight nick in the chrome. Even with that 500 miles seems a very short time for a seal to go.
Has anyone had any similar problems?
Failing that does anyone had a set of good forks that they might be willing to sell?
Cheers T
Damn fork seal leaking/popping
- stormingjoe
- Posts: 493
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- Location: basingstoke
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Re: Damn fork seal leaking/popping
use genuine seals, common problem on non genuine items
1998 Firestorm, 47,000 miles, forks valved & sprung, proflex shock +4mm over standard, manual ccts', k&n, 50#slow 185#/190# mains, front carb slide mod, R6 throttle tube, Tank raised, Viper cans, Coerce fork brace, EBC lite front discs & pads.
- bikerpiker
- Posts: 1823
- Joined: Sun Mar 23, 2008 9:59 pm
- Location: Ayrshire - Scotland .
Re: Damn fork seal leaking/popping
I had big problems when i used Genuine Honda dealer fork oil seals ,which had 1 spring ,...my problem was sorted by using pyramid oil seal(from ebay),with 2 springs,.......which turned out to be made by the same manufacturer as the genuine Honda items ,with NOK(manufacturer) and identical part numbers stamped on the seal.
I even took my forks into the Honda dealer ,to show them how slack the genuine Honda seals were ,ie , when holding the oil seal with the fork through the hole in the seal,the weight of the fork slipped down through the seal ,ie it was slack!!...with the Pyramid oil seal ,it was tighter,and when lifted ,the fork did not slide through the seal. (that maybe sounds hard to understand, but i know what i mean)
Clicky .. http://www.vtr1000.org/phpBB3/viewtopic ... als#p85115
I even took my forks into the Honda dealer ,to show them how slack the genuine Honda seals were ,ie , when holding the oil seal with the fork through the hole in the seal,the weight of the fork slipped down through the seal ,ie it was slack!!...with the Pyramid oil seal ,it was tighter,and when lifted ,the fork did not slide through the seal. (that maybe sounds hard to understand, but i know what i mean)

Clicky .. http://www.vtr1000.org/phpBB3/viewtopic ... als#p85115
Last edited by bikerpiker on Wed Oct 07, 2009 8:21 am, edited 1 time in total.
Stevie
Re: Damn fork seal leaking/popping
+1 on using OE seals, did mine 3 years ago and have had no problems since.
I believe that the seals from suzuki rm 250 fits too, they might be listed as cheaper even though they're the same part number.
Failing that, if it's just 1 seal you need I think I've got 1 somewhere....
I believe that the seals from suzuki rm 250 fits too, they might be listed as cheaper even though they're the same part number.
Failing that, if it's just 1 seal you need I think I've got 1 somewhere....
Unus Dies Gingiber Mos Hereditas Orbis terrarum.
- Pete.L
- Forum Health And Safety Officer
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- Location: Bristol
Re: Damn fork seal leaking/popping
Check the friction metals on the end of the stansion. If they are worn it will keep popping your seals.
Pete.l
Pete.l
My new ride is a bit of a Howler and I love to make her Squeal
Re: Damn fork seal leaking/popping
Thanks for the tips guys and for the offer of the single fork seal, but I'm beginning to think that a full rebuild is going to be needed and I may as well get both done.
I think that there might be a problem with the stanchion Can anyone recommend a decent aftermarket supplier?
L&M do a re build (clicky) that looks like a good deal for the money.
Unfortunately lack of a garage and time means that I'll be having to pay someone else to do all of the work! :mad2
I think that there might be a problem with the stanchion Can anyone recommend a decent aftermarket supplier?
L&M do a re build (clicky) that looks like a good deal for the money.
Unfortunately lack of a garage and time means that I'll be having to pay someone else to do all of the work! :mad2
- stormingjoe
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Re: Damn fork seal leaking/popping
get them rogered!!!!! with new bushes etc
1998 Firestorm, 47,000 miles, forks valved & sprung, proflex shock +4mm over standard, manual ccts', k&n, 50#slow 185#/190# mains, front carb slide mod, R6 throttle tube, Tank raised, Viper cans, Coerce fork brace, EBC lite front discs & pads.
Re: Damn fork seal leaking/popping
+1 on thatstormingjoe wrote:get them rogered!!!!! with new bushes etc

Give Roger a call and see what he recommends, that would be my advice
http://www.revolutionuk.co.uk/
Chris.